Memorable quotes for
Germania anno zero (1948)

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Edmund: Is he your brother?
Christl: Who? Jo? No.
Edmund: You're always together.
Christl: So? What about it?
Edmund: Wherever he goes, you're right behind.
Christl: And that makes him my brother?

---

Eva: Did you get the Number 2 Card?
Edmund: No, they kicked me out because I'm not fifteen yet.
Il padre: I knew that would happen. Still, I'm glad you're not going anywhere. That's too much work for a boy your age.
Edmund: But it would have meant more to eat. For Karl-Heinz, too.
Il padre: Did you hear that, Karl-Heinz? You know that poor Edmund, at his age, can't support all of us. He's still a child. But you, what do you do? You keep hiding. You didn't even register for a food card.

---

Eva: You're so selfish. You don't care about getting food. You only care about eating it.
Karl-Heinz: Didn't I tell you to send Edmund to work?
Eva: You don't do anything. You just hide, and yet you want to eat and drink. You don't ask where I go every night. All that matters is that I come back with a couple of cigarettes for you.
Karl-Heinz: Did I smoke them?
Eva: No, but you know that cigarettes are like money.
Karl-Heinz: Should I thank you for that? Nowadays everybody does it.
Eva: They do worse things, too.
Karl-Heinz: You see?
Eva: Then tell me to sell myself!

---

Il maestro: Weren't you one of my students?
Edmund: Yes, Mr. Enning.
Il maestro: My memory's good. What's your name?
Edmund: Edmund Koeler.
Il maestro: Edmund Koeler. First desk on the left. You've grown up. How is your father?
Edmund: My father is sick, very sick.
Il maestro: Didn't you have a brother in the Wermacht?
Edmund: Yes, Karl-Heinz. He was in the military, but he's home now.
Il maestro: Then he must be out of work, like me.
Edmund: You're not teaching anymore?
Il maestro: I didn't share the ideas of the people in power about teaching children.

---

Frau Rademaker: His sister goes out every night, too. She's really shameless. You shouldn't let these people near our daughter.
Herr Rademaker: One of these days I'll kick them out.
Edmund: What have you got against my sister? Why are you always mad at us?
Herr Rademaker: You shut up! Get out! Take the scale and don't come back without the money. Is that clear?
Edmund: Yes, Herr Rademaker. I'll come back tomorrow morning.

---

Edmund: Your friend is in the work service?
Il maestro: He clears the ruins.
Edmund: No mandatory labor for you?
Il maestro: Luckily, no.
Edmund: My brother thought he'd have to. He stayed away.
Il maestro: They all should stay away, those that share our ideas. Remember? Long ago, your father falsified a document to get you out of Hitler Youth. But you said right away that it was false. You knew your duty. I should have reported your father for that, but I didn't because I like you.

---

Edmund: Where are we? I don't know this area.
Jo: Well, you look out for yourself.
Edmund: I live in Alex. How do I get back at this hour?
Jo: You don't have to go back home.
Edmund: Where am I supposed to sleep? I don't know anybody here.
Jo: It's up to you. Everything around here's empty.
Edmund: By myself?
Jo: [pointing to Christl] With her. Why not? She's your type.

---

Il maestro: What do they teach you in school now? Democracy?
Edmund: I don't go to school anymore.
Il maestro: Why not? You don't like the new teachers?
Edmund: I have to work now.
Il maestro: Work? Why?
Edmund: There are four of us at home, and we only have three food cards.
Il maestro: Poor Edmund. Why doesn't your brother have a card?
Edmund: He never registered. He fought in the streets until the Allied troops arrived.

---

Edmund: It wasn't my fault. I was with other boys.
Il padre: Enough! I don't want to hear any lies!
Eva: He didn't mean any harm, Papa. He wanted to get something to eat.
Il padre: I'll do without.
Karl-Heinz: Me, too. I'd rather die of hunger.
Eva: Easy for you to say.
Il padre: I can't stand it anymore, here in this bed.

---

Herr Rademaker: Tell me the truth. What did you do with the money?
Edmund: What money?
Herr Rademaker: The money for the scale. Did you give it to your father?
Edmund: I swear that's not true.
Herr Rademaker: You're not going to cheat me, boy. I know you'll do anything for money. You got into my house ...
Edmund: The housing superintendent sent us here.
Herr Rademaker: Yes, and I have to put up with it. Your father is a pain, always complaining. Why doesn't he die and give us some peace?

---

Edmund: I have no work, and neither does Eva. My brother still won't report and get his card.
Il maestro: I understand, but what can I do?
Edmund: My father needs treatment. Can't you help me? What can I do?
Il maestro: There's nothing you can do. Times are hard for everyone, worse for weak and old people. You've done all you can.
Edmund: But what if he dies?
Il maestro: If he dies, he dies. We all die sooner or later. Would you rather die yourself or let an old man live?

---

Karl-Heinz: Who gave you money to buy cigarettes?
Edmund: It was a gift.
Karl-Heinz: From who? Those bad boys you go stealing with?
Edmund: It wasn't boys. It was a girl.
Karl-Heinz: You should be ashamed of yourself.
Edmund: Why? Everybody does it.
Karl-Heinz: That's not a reason.
Edmund: Her name is Christl. She's all alone, and she sleeps in a basement. She's a nice girl. I like her. She gives cigarettes to all her friends. You should have a woman to take care of you.
Karl-Heinz: A woman? That's all I need. Like this bitch of a life wasn't enough.
Edmund: Don't talk like that! Have courage!
Karl-Heinz: I had courage. A soldier can lose everything but his courage. But now I'm not a soldier anymore. I'm less than useless, another mouth to feed.

---

Il medico: His heart is very weak. His whole condition is bad.
Eva: What can we do?
Il medico: He needs nutritrious foods, vitamins.
Eva: How can we do that, Doctor?
Edmund: With the cards we have, we can't get more
Il medico: Yes, I know. It's the same all over. The best thing would be to get him into a hospital. But they are all more than full.
Karl-Heinz: Couldn't we at least try, Doctor?
Il medico: Cases worse than his have not been admitted.

---

Edmund: Eva, they're cutting the power.
Eva: The power? Why?
Edmund: They discovered someone was stealing it.
Eva: Who?
Karl-Heinz: Someone.
Edmund: Rademaker says it was us.
Karl-Heinz: As usual.
Eva: So that's what he was screaming about.
Karl-Heinz: That black marketer. One day I'll smash his head.
Eva: You're such a big talker, but when it comes to helping us, you do nothing.

---

Il padre: I've considered killing myself, but I don't have the courage.

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